Davao City’s wetlands dwindling
An environmental group said that the loss of urban wetlands in Davao City contributed to the recent major flash floods in some parts of the metropolis.
Lemuel Manalo, program coordinator of the environmental group Interfacing Development Interventions for Sustainability (IDIS), said Davao City has been losing 95 percent of its wetlands since the 1940s.
Based on their research on United States Army data, Manalo said the city had 471 hectares of wetlands in 1944; then it dwindled to 84.55 hectares in 2002.
In 2021, wetlands in the city have shrunk further to 24.46 hectares, he added.
Repair of Surigao City’s boulevard damaged by ‘Odette’ starts
Repairs and rehabilitation of Surigao City’s boulevard and wharf that was destroyed by typhoon Odette in 2021 has started this week.
Surigao City Vice Mayor Alfonso Casura and Office of Civil Defense Regional Director Liza Mazo led the groundbreaking of the area for repairs with a total length of more than 1,000 square meters.
The project is being funded by national agencies and is expected to be completed this year.
Gen. Brawner awards medals to 26 soldiers in Cagayan de Oro
Armed Forces Chief of Staff Romeo Brawner Jr. awarded on Wednesday medals to 26 soldiers who were successful in their campaign against New People’s Army rebels in Northern Mindanao and Caraga regions.
“I was briefed by your troop commanders that not only you hit the target but you hit the target way ahead of the deadlines,” Brawner told the troops assembled inside the gymnasium of Camp Evangelista in Cagayan de Oro City.
The 22 troops came from various Army battalions under the 4th Infantry Division whose area of responsibility include Caraga and Northern Mindanao.
Later, Brawner went to the Camp Evangelista Emergency Hospital where he awarded with medals the soldiers wounded in the clash with Dawlah Islamiyah-Maute Group in Munai town, Lanao del Norte last Feb. 18.
